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“This project is a continuation of what Morris was to Alaska. He was a person who built bridges, and this project will be a fitting tribute -- it will be a bridge between cultures.” Sam Kito, Jr. Campaign Chair |
 The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center will be the gateway to experiencing the grandeur of Interior Alaska. Our one-stop facility will introduce visitors to our land and the people who live here and will inspire visitors to go out and explore all that Fairbanks and the Interior has to offer. It will be a community gathering place, where diverse cultures come together to learn to understand, appreciate and respect one another. It is an extraordinary partnership of the public and private sector and Alaska Native and non-Native organizations working together to celebrate all that is unique and special about Interior Alaska and to build Alaska's tourism economy. The Center will be located on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks and will house:
The Center is becoming a reality. The Board of Directors of the Center signed a contract with local contractor, GHEMM Company, to begin construction of the facility in April 2007. The City of Fairbanks and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center signed a long-term lease for the riverfront land, which the city successfully acquired in 2006. After working together for many years with a common vision for a shared facility, the partners have each signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the terms of their relationship. In addition, the future occupants have agreed to a 10-year lease and a monthly fee based on the amount of square footage each will occupy. Finally, Governor Sarah Palin has included $3 million for the project in her revised FY08 capital budget. That’s good news for project supporters! When the facility opens in 2008, it will provide visitor information, trip planning services, exhibits, a theater, an artisans' workshop and demonstration area, an Elders' gathering area, cultural and environmental education classrooms and outdoor recreational space. |
 HOME | OUR VISION | LEGACY FOR PROGRESS | MAKE A GIFT | MORRIS THOMPSON PROJECT TIMELINE | PROGRESS REPORT WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE? | AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY | CONTACT US Copyright © 2004, - 2006 Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, all rights reserved. Cindy Schumaker, Project Director, Phone: 907-459-3880 Fax: 907-459-3884 E-mail:thompson.center@tananachiefs.org Designed by WebWeavers Technology Group LLC™ |
